Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup: Breaking a rope on cue

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Breaking a rope on cue

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2907
Printed Date: 6/15/25 at 3:03am
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Topic: Breaking a rope on cue

Posted By: TimW
Subject: Breaking a rope on cue
Date Posted: 1/12/08 at 9:47pm

We are going to do 'Murder At The Howard Johnson's' the end of this month.

At the end of the show, a hangman's noose is made to kill the actress. The rope has a "flaw" in it and breaks after it is put on her and pulled. The noose is tied on stage. There will be safety cautions taken for those concerned!

The rope will be a nylon rope with a cotten core - think utility rope.

I have started with burning the ends of the "flaw" and stitching it back together with sewing thread. Come to find out, thread like other things, is stronger in numbers. So still working on it.

It gets handled quite a bit on stage before the actual break.

Has anyone done something like this before with good results?

Tim

Replies:

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 1/13/08 at 8:59am

Originally posted by TimW

.

At the end of the show, a hangman's noose is made

Tim is the Hangmans knot actualy tied on stage or is the noose pre-set?

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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

Posted By: drose
Date Posted: 1/13/08 at 12:32pm

We did exactly what you are proposing and it worked beautifully! It helps to have the "break" behind the scaffold arm, so that the rope flaw is handled less. (Our actors stood across the room to pull the rope, so it was fine to have it behind the arm). Also, and this is critical, have the actress put her hands inside the noose to protect her neck AND have a safety word (that is not part of the script) so that if for some reason the rope doesn't break, the actors can let go and she can escape without injury. We never needed this "out", but better safe than sorry!

Posted By: TimW
Date Posted: 1/13/08 at 12:34pm

The noose is tied on stage by the second person after the first person makes 2 attempts at it and fails. So the "flaw" needs to be past the point where the noose is tied. Hence the concern for me to make sure the flaw in the rope where it is going to break is perfect.

The script says that there is a second rope hidden on the gallows that is supposed to give the illusion that the rope breaks. Problem there is that the character places the noose over the top of the gallows AFTER tying the not. Two ropes, one noose, doesn't add up with my math.

Knowing that thread does break is why I am trying this method. I may have just used to much to re-attach the rope on my first try.

Posted By: TimW
Date Posted: 1/13/08 at 12:40pm

Originally posted by drose

We did exactly what you are proposing and it worked beautifully! It helps to have the "break" behind the scaffold arm, so that the rope flaw is handled less.

Thanks drose!

This is exactly where my mind was headed. Did you just stitch the rope a couple of times or more. Do you remember? I am assuming to use low grade thread to assure the break.

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 1/14/08 at 10:43am

I don't know if this helps, but every time I have hung an actor on stage.

I have used rubber bands on the rope at the gallows standing end & within the lay of the knot. so any pressure the rope ends & the knot fall away. Much the same system used when packing the lines on a parachute.

The rubber band holds two rope ends on each other, at the gallows standing end. Also at the intial rope bend of the knot, under the 7 lay rope turns of the knot.

[1 turn for each day in the week!]

However I have reservations leaving it upto an actor to tie the knot & get the quick release right every time?

So I think your thread idea may be the better option, the flaw only needs to be tack sewn to hold, I'm sure your wardrobe person would be able to show you how to do a break away stich.

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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

Posted By: TimW
Date Posted: 1/14/08 at 10:22pm

That is a very clever idea JoeMc. I did a little skydiving. If I understand right, instead of actually a tied knot in the noose, the rubberbands are holding the layers of rope in place incase something goes wrong and the 'knot' just gives way. If so, this is good food for thought for other projects that might come up!

Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 1/15/08 at 12:56am

Is there a way to substitute a "tricked" rope for the one the actor(s) tie on stage?

They can do the business of tying the noose, then when it comes time to fling the knotted rope over the hangman's arm, they substitute the trick rope instead.

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"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 1/15/08 at 6:46am

The initial noose loop is cut & the ends held on the standing line rope, before the wrap turns are applied, which ensures it holds together with handling.

http://www.predatek.com/2_hn_knot.htm - http://www.predatek.com/2_hn_knot.htm

When line tention is applied, the noose loop line slips thru the rubber band under the wrap turns, The knot releases & the rope parts.

Both our oldest sons & daughter, were competitive skydivers. I'm glad to say they finnaly grew up & now resist the urge to leap out of a perfectly good airplane.

Although our second oldest is one of the owners of 'Skydive Express' skydiving centre, training & demostration team. Although he now only jumps, as a camera man for competitive video taping, for piont scoring. Our daughter still jumps now & then, but gave it up when she was pregnant with our first grand child. The oldest son entered an areement not to do extreme sports, with the Standing Commitee of Parliment, where he is the Chef. Because he had a number of accidents that had laid him up for a few months each time. this upset the catering for our politicians, as it happened at christmas time for 2 years in a row.

-------------
[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}